Page 26 of I Just Want to be Yours

I start to chew slowly. “Amazing,” I say when it’s safe to talk again.

He smiles and takes another bite. When he looks up again, he directs his attention to Matt and Rae, and I do the same until my phone vibrates again.

Jackson:

You’re so fucking beautiful, you know that?

I don’t say it enough.

I frown, my eyebrows pulling together as I look at the words on the screen. He’s only told me that once before, and this time hits me just as hard even though it’s over text. If anything, it hits me harder because it’s so random.

Too random.

Margot:

Are you drunk?

I watch the three dots float across the screen.

Jackson:

That’s the conclusion you jump to?

I can’t just text my girlfriend and tell her how pretty she is?

Margot:

Am I right?

There’s a pause before those three dots appear again.

Jackson:

Maybe a little.

I’ve been hanging out with a bottle of bourbon alone in an RV.

My lips twist as I try to fight my smile. When he told me he’d probably just end up texting me if he drank on tour, I figured he was joking. But this is actually making me really happy.

Margot:

You’re alone?

Jackson is never alone. It’s why we always text instead of talking on the phone.

Jackson:

Yeah.

Margot:

Can I call you?

Before I realize what I’m doing, I shovel the rest of my pasta into my mouth.

Jackson:

You can always call me.

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